Summary Chapter 6 Flashcards
How many people are in the team climbing Everest?
Twenty-six people, including Sherpa staff.
What is Hall’s strategy for climbing Everest?
Climb slowly to allow clients to adjust to altitude.
What is the purpose of rising from Base Camp to Camp One and back?
To allow time for altitude adjustment.
What does Krakauer worry about regarding his teammates?
They lack recent mountain training.
What do some clients naively believe about summiting Everest?
That paying a lot of money guarantees reaching the summit.
What is the Khumbu Icefall known for?
Being one of the most dangerous parts of Mount Everest.
What are seracs?
Huge blocks of ice found in the Icefall.
What challenge do climbers face in the Khumbu Icefall?
Avoiding being crushed by collapsing seracs.
What agreement did Hall and other professional mountaineers reach regarding the Icefall?
One designated team would carve out the route each year.
What fee did the American team demand in 1988?
$2,000 to use the route they carved out through the Icefall.
What was Hall’s initial reaction to the toll for using the Icefall route?
He was furious.
What realization did Hall come to regarding the Icefall toll?
He accepted it as a logical system and began charging his own fee.
What does Krakauer notice about his breathing during the climb?
He starts breathing heavily and realizes his body hasn’t adjusted to thin air.
What did Krakauer and the team do after reaching Camp One?
They returned to Base Camp to adjust to the altitude.
Who does Krakauer identify as a particularly talented climber?
Frank Fischbeck.
What mistake did Stuart Hutchinson make during the trek?
He was too eager to finish first and tired himself out.
What did Beck Weathers and Yasuko Namba struggle with?
They didn’t know how to use their crampons.
Who proved to be a good guide during the expedition?
Andy Harris.
What did Linda tell Krakauer during their phone call?
She misses him and that saying goodbye was hard.
How long have Krakauer and Linda been married?
Fifteen years.
What injury did Linda suffer that affected her climbing?
A back injury.
What change in perspective does Krakauer have about the commercialization of Everest?
He acknowledges the changes in climbing habits due to commercialization.
What do many professional climbers find outrageous about the Nepalese government?
Charging $65,000 to climb Everest.
What is the importance of altitude adjustment during the climb?
It prevents exhaustion and respiratory failure.
What problem arises from having climbers of varying abilities on the same expedition?
Faster climbers waste energy waiting for slower climbers.
What does Krakauer suggest about less experienced climbers attempting Everest?
They should be discouraged from climbing, regardless of their financial ability.
What do Linda’s concerns foreshadow?
The May 10 disaster.
